Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith.

Short Responsory

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle

Nunc Dimittis

Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.

Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.

You have fulfilled your promise.

My own eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.

A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;

the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.

Let us pray.

In your mercy, Lord,

dispel the darkness of this night.

Let your household sleep in peace

so that at the dawn of a new day

they may, with joy, waken in your name.

Through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

The Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

AMEN

Ave Regina Caelorum

Hail, Queen of the heavens,

hail, Lady of the angels.

Root of our salvation

and our gateway to heaven,

the light of the world was born to you.

Be joyful, Virgin of glory,

most beautiful of all in heaven.

We greet you now, true beauty –

pray for us to Christ.

Ave, Regína cælórum,

ave, Dómina angelórum,

salve, radix, salve, porta,

ex qua mundo lux est orta.

Gaude, Virgo gloriósa,

super omnes speciósa;

vale, o valde decóra,

et pro nobis Christum exóra.

The psalms and canticles here are our own translation. The Grail translation of the psalms, which is used liturgically in most of the English-speaking world, cannot be displayed on the Web for copyright reasons. The Universalis downloads do contain the Grail translation of the psalms.